Cowboys RT Terence Steele placed on Reserve/COVID, to miss Saints game

Dallas will be without their right tackle for next Thursday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

The Dallas Cowboys continue to ride two simultaneous roller coasters and it is not the thrill normally associated with the amusement park attraction. On one hand, the Cowboys have literally gone years without being able to play their preferred starting offensive line. On the other hand, Dallas has had the most members of their roster and coaching staff ruled out due to COVID positive tests and close contacts.

On Sunday, while they recuperate from their Thanksgiving Day game defeat and prepare for the final stretch of their season and six straight NFC games, those two trends collided. Dallas rolled out their intended starting five OL for the first time since mid-2019, but shocking to most observers they preferred to have Terence Steele at right tackle instead of La’el Collins. That luxury lasted exactly one game as Steele has now been placed on the COVID list.

Steele had started 10 straight contests, taking over in Week 2 after Collins was hit with a five-game suspension for trying to bribe an NFL drug tester. He kept the starting job in Week 8 after Collins was eligible, but then shifted to left tackle as Tyron Smith was out with an ankle injury.

Smith returned last week and most observers felt Steele would return to swing tackle status but the Cowboys planted Steele back next to Zack Martin, who missed Week 1 with COVID.

Now Collins will return to the starting lineup, having been a part of a weird rotation last week where he and demoted left guard Connor Williams replaced Steele and Connor McGovern respectively for the third series of the Raiders game on Thursday.

The Cowboys will also be without their offensive line coaching staff and their entire strength and conditioning staff through the week of preparation.

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